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Yes, I think it is time for this. I hope it lasts. Thibowho?

Long overdue!!

*cough* 2009 headcoach *cough...spit*

I'll grab my quote from another thread

Okay, so we are playing great defense now....but who is to say we can't do that with GIL. We obviously have a new defensive system/strategy and even Jamison looks to be much better. It is so unfair to judge Gil based on the 8 games that he played HURT this season and say we are better without him.

I remember when we won we beat det twice within a few days last year, and we were #1 in the EAST, everyone was going crazy. With Arenas right now, we would be SICK! The team loves gil, they want him back...you dont add that kind of talent and take a step back unless he is a cancer....and gil IS NOT.

Donkey McDonkerton wrote:I'll grab my quote from another thread

Okay, so we are playing great defense now....but who is to say we can't do that with GIL. We obviously have a new defensive system/strategy and even Jamison looks to be much better. It is so unfair to judge Gil based on the 8 games that he played HURT this season and say we are better without him.

I remember when we won we beat det twice within a few days last year, and we were #1 in the EAST, everyone was going crazy. With Arenas right now, we would be SICK! The team loves gil, they want him back...you dont add that kind of talent and take a step back unless he is a cancer....and gil IS NOT.

That should have been left in the other thread.

This one is for Randy.


Awesome job RA. Glad you made the trip to DC were we were starving for some D. Thanks for the 2 wins against Boston.

hands11 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



That should have been left in the other thread.

This one is for Randy.


Awesome job RA. Glad you made the trip to DC were we were starving for some D. Thanks for the 2 wins against Boston.

Um, no it shouldnt. We are playing great D now....who else could get credit for that? Obviously Ayers has done an awesome job...plus if can get Jamison to play good D, then imagine what Arenas (who has the physical tools) will be able to do.

See you arent the only one who gets to talk about the same Shyte over and over again.

I heart what he has been able to do with the team in such short time.!

He has got the team believing in the defensive scheme. He has convinced the team to play D. He has got this team prepared to play D for the last few games. Previous to this, we were only playing half the game (that being offense), and depending on that to win a game. Now, we really have the complete package.

I've never seen this team play such fundamentally sound defense in my lifetime. A lot of credit to Ej, and to the players, but the majority of credit should go to Ayers.

When Gilbert gets back, there's no limit to where this team can go.

I nominate Randy Ayers for Assistant Coach of the Year! He's so good that they should start a category just to recognize what he's done.

This defense has made a complete overhall. I can't believe I'm watching the same Wizards team out there for the most part.

We should be talking more about Ayers contributions, rather than questioning whether this stretch proves we are better off w/o Gil.

Ayers has alot more to do with our success than Gil's absense. Book that.

Ayers makes EJ look like a credible coach for the most part.

Dat2U wrote:
Ayers has alot more to do with our success than Gil's absense. Book that.

This is basically what I have been trying to get at.

I also wanted to mention how much Dave Hopla has helped the team with their free throw shooting. He has helped Wood improve so much at the line.

newslowsad wrote:I also wanted to mention how much Dave Hopla has helped the team with their free throw shooting. He has helped Wood improve so much at the line.

Time to start a Hopla thread

Dat2U wrote:This defense has made a complete overhall. I can't believe I'm watching the same Wizards team out there for the most part.

We should be talking more about Ayers contributions, rather than questioning whether this stretch proves we are better off w/o Gil.

I couldn't agree more.

This is the best defense I have even seen the Wizards play. It's like we're watching a completely different team.

Funny thing is, many of us have argued that the Wizards have the talent to play defense. We've always had a relatively long and athletic lineup with the exception of Jamison. I figure length + athleticism + good coaching should equal good defense. It's been one of my criticisms of EJ all along.

It looks like EG has finally found the right assistant coach to get the job done. And EJ, to his credit, has allowed Ayers to implement his system. Kudos to Ayers, EJ and EG. They all deserve a lot of credit.

I also think Stevenson deserves some credit. Not many guys go out and radically improve their defensive game after signing a long contract. He has been the real difference in these past few games. He has been truly disruptive out there.

I agree, the Wiz have been playing the best D I have seen. Can you give Assistan Coach of the Year Awards? The Wiz have been notorious for high scoring, no D, but now it seems they can High score, and make key stops at the end of games. I love it. Thibodeau has done great with Boston, but we've been SO bad at D for so long, and now we are playing like a top 10 team.

RE: Deshawn

Yes, even his shooting percentage has gone up some. As long as he continues his top defensive play and hits a couple threes every game, I'll stop the hate.

the defense is obviously much improved, but another key factor in our recent success is our much-improved FT shooting, especially from bth. who wants to start the dave hopla nuthugging thread?

They made a big deal about talking on defense in the preseason. I don't think Randy Ayers is implementing a new system -- it's still EJ's basic defensive ideas -- but he's taught the players how to run it a little better by communicating. Somehow he got through to them that the defense only works if everybody is thinking the same thoughts, and you have to communicate in order to accomplish that. Last year you could see the rotations were always a beat too slow and now they're rotating much, much faster.

EJ admitted Hopla knows more about the mechanics of shooting than he does and there's nothing wrong with that. Likewise, Ayers brought in some specific knowledge of defense that complements EJ's knowledge and there's nothing wrong with that either.

Thibodeu was probably going to try to rebuild everything from scratch, he and EJ probably didn't share the same defensive ideas at all.

ZonkertheBrainless wrote:They made a big deal about talking on defense in the preseason. I don't think Randy Ayers is implementing a new system -- it's still EJ's basic defensive ideas -- but he's taught the players how to run it a little better by communicating. Somehow he got through to them that the defense only works if everybody is thinking the same thoughts, and you have to communicate in order to accomplish that. Last year you could see the rotations were always a beat too slow and now they're rotating much, much faster.

Yep yep. Difference is both the pre-season emphasis, the fact that they don't have to re-teach the offense to incoming starters and can spent practice court time on defensive drill work-- and Ayers has a tangible presence in holding players accountable. EJ has one less micro-managing task and can delegate defensive minutia to Randy. Also, Brendan of course, who has a chokehold on the starting spot, with improved offense, and late game FT shooting.

Stats over the last 10 games, as of 01/15/08:

Opponents pts per game:
1. SA 89.4
2. Hou 90.1
3. Det 90.3
4. Bos 90.4
5. Cle 90.6
6. Was 90.7

Opponents fg%
1. Bos .420
2. Por .423
3. Was .429

Steals per game:
1. Phi 9.4
2. Cle. 8.8
3. LAL 8.8
4. Was 8.5

This is team D. Good job!

We also improved one spot in defensive efficiency. Moving from 16th to 15th.

That's right folks, our Wizards are an average defensive team for the season. And if we're going by the last few games, one of the best defensive teams in the league.